A nursery manager gave false information to Ofsted about a five-year-old who was left locked alone in a building for two hours.

Christine Hobbs, who managed The Wrap Around Club in Burwell, had her registration cancelled by Ofsted following several unannounced inspections.

Parents of the five-year-old girl locked in the club in August raised concerns to the regulator which sparked the inspections.

Ofsted says Ms Hobbs told the regulator that a child was left "for a few minutes" - but after enquiries, found that it was in fact two hours.

Christine Hobbs

Ofsted said in a recently published report: “The initial information the provider gave us on 31 August 2017 when we contacted by telephone was that a child was left for a few minutes.

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“However, as a result of our enquiries, during which we found that the child was left for approximately two hours, and the provider had given false information to Ofsted the decision was made to take steps to cancel the provider’s registration.

"They were no longer able to demonstrate that they were suitable to remain registered. We had particular concerns about this provider’s honesty and integrity and ability to safeguard children."

The Wrap Around Club has since closed, while pre-school Spring Close Montessori in Burwell and Reach, which were managed by Ms Hobbs, were closed this month (January 16) for re-branding and new ownership.

'Children were at significant risk of harm'

In another Ofsted report published on November 21 last year read: "On September 1, 2017, we visited The Wrap Around Club, a setting run by the provider due to concerns that had been raised.

"We found that children were at significant risk of harm.

"This has raised concerns about the ongoing suitability of the registered provider.

"On September 18, 2017, we carried out an unannounced visit to the premises of Spring Close Montessori.

"We found that not all legal requirements were being met."

The report added the setting had allowed a child to be "collected by a person without prior permission from the parent".

The recruitment processes to ensure staff were suitable for their roles were "not robust".

Child protection practices were not carried out in line with guidance from the Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB).

Ms Hobbs had also failed to respond swiftly to concerns expressed about a member of staff.

'Inadequate'

Ofsted issued a welfare requirement notice, which required Ms Hobbs to take action on a number of issues.

On October 3, 2017, another inspection was carried out which found that there were still improvements to be made.

The judgment for the inspection was given the worst rating - inadequate.

Another welfare requirement notice was issued to Ms Hobbs on October 17, 2017.

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A further inspection was carried out on November 17, 2017, which found "suitable" improvements to the pre-school.

But despite those improvements, Ofsted says it found Ms Hobbs gave false information to the regulator, so it took steps to cancel her registration.

It added that inspectors had particular concerns about Ms Hobbs' honesty and integrity.

At the time, she told the News she would be appealing the decision.

Ofsted says after hearing Ms Hobbs' reasons for objecting, Ofsted issued a notice of decision to cancel her registration.

Ms Hobbs did not appeal the decision and her registration was cancelled after 13 years of running the pre-school, and she will no longer manage Spring Close Montessori.

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: "We don't comment on individuals, but Ofsted has taken steps to cancel the provider's registration, as they no longer remain suitable to be registered to provide childcare."

Re-opening the nursery

Grace Vincent, from Burwell, will be the new manager of the nursery.

Spring Close Montessori in the village will be renamed The Spring Montessori, while the nursery in Reach will be renamed Fairgreen Montessori.

Ms Vincent previously told the News the nursery would re-open after a re-brand.

"I'm excited for changes to happen and for things to get going again - to start from fresh.

"Everything will change. We will have a new name, rejigging of staff, staff will go on more training, more policies.

"Everything will be done as it should be done."

She added that Ms Hobbs' registration was cancelled and she is no longer allowed to be involved with the nursery.

Ms Hobbs has been approached by the News for a comment prior to publication. We are yet to receive a response.

As of January 29 2018, the nursery went under new management and there has been no indication of any wrongdoing since.